On 18 Dec 2005 17:07:46 -0800, wrote:

Where does a lighted doorbell button get its power from? It only has
two wires and it lights without ringing the doorbell.

Mike

When a doorbell button is NOT being pushed, there will be 16VAC (or
somewhat higher) across the contacts. A bulb could be connected across
here. It would be in series with the bell, but this would still work
if the bulb has a high enough resistance that the current would still
be too little to ring the bell (and many doorbells are actually
chimes, that make sound only when the current starts or stops, not
when it's steady).

BTW, considering strange electrical stuff, what if you had an old
(Edison base) fuse box that you could screw a light bulb into instead
of a fuse?
--
6 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin